The classes are led by a female instructor in the beautiful Pimp Hall Nature Reserve in North Chingford.
This class is suitable for beginners and women over 50 and other regular students of mixed abilities.
Time: Wednesdays 9.45 – 10.45am
Venue: At the Learning Lodge, Pimp Hall Nature Reserve, near Kings Road Recycling Centre, off Kings Road, Chingford, London E4 7HR. Bus 179, 212, 444
In the warmer and summer months the class takes place outdoors.
Learn how to slow down the body and mind by mastering basic Tai Chi movements, footwork and stances. Putting these basics together, gradually learn a Chen Style Form for beginners (Chen 18 Form, 陈氏十八式). Students will slowly progress to Chen Style Lao Jia Yi Lu (third/long form) and/or other suitable form depending on each student’s needs.
There are lots of repetitions, balance and breath work, posture correction and refining details in the learning process to help deepen students’ understanding of the basic principles and improve strength and vitality.
Chen Style Tai Chi is the oldest and parent form of the five main Tai Chi styles. We focus on the typically circular, flowy and smooth movements with balance training in this class.
In each class, we will also introduce and repeat some basic Qi Gong movements in both warm up and wind down sections. Qi Gong (气功), means hard work/ practice/cultivation (Gong) of life force or energy (Qi). It is a health system of coordinated body posture and movement, breathing and meditation, to help enhance the circulation of Qi, and ultimately to help improve our overall health and wellbeing.
Tai Chi and Qi Gong are closely related and integrated. Both are “internal” in contrast to “external” such as Kung Fu and Karate which focuses on physical strength and agility.
Both are suitable for people of all ages and abilities including sitting position. We will work with your ability and access needs.
Instructor Aileen (Ai Ling, 爱玲) trained Chen Style Tai Chi for 12 years with Shaolin Master, Shifu Mark Browne (Shi Hei Long, 释黑龙), a 34th generation disciple of Shaolin Temple, China. She attends regular training workshops with visiting Chen Village masters from China in London. She had the BCCMA (British Council for Chinese Martial Arts, a national governing body) Level 3 coaching qualification. She has been teaching for over 10 years.
Aileen was one of the founders in 2013 to set up Dao Lu CIC – the place you are looking up the information right now – a community group training Tai Chi and promoting healthy lifestyle in local green space and nature reserve. Aileen taught in a wide range settings to people of all walks and abilities, such as in the Kew Gardens from 2022 to date, Natural History Museum London in 2023, young people with learning disabilities near Padding from 2016 to date, blind people, South Asian women etc.
The first session is free. The cost is £25 per month, which gives access to all Dao Lu classes, or £7 drop-in. For full details, please see join Dao Lu.
Clothing – flexible and weather-appropriate. T-shirt, and black jogging trousers (or similar). Footwear – plimsolls or lightweight trainers.
Drinks – please bring a small bottle of water.